Parents and a local education advocacy organization filed a Civil Rights complaint in May charging the One Newark plan – set to begin in September – unfairly harms African-American children and their families. The controversial plan consolidates and relocates one-quarter of the schools in the state-run district. It also allows charter schools to operate in three city-owned facilities.

Officials in the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights confirmed an investigation began this month.

“OCR is currently investigating whether Newark Public Schools’ enactment of the “One Newark” plan discriminated against black students on the basis of race," a U.S. Department of Education spokesman said. "As it is an open investigation, we cannot share any further information.”

The lawsuit is one of several brought by the Journey for Justice Alliance and the Advancement Project, two nonprofit corporations concerned about education equity. Other complaints were filed against Chicago and New Orleans school districts.